This hotel was recommended to me by STA Travel, which was the only travel agents I had access to at the time (I was travelling around SA). I realised why this is when I arrived. This is essentially a student residence and was full of north american students when I was there, to the point that I felt quite aware that I was one of the only non-students at breakfast in the mornings.
Rooms are basic, although clean and I had a nice view, but with thin walls. I could hear people shouting and running through the corridors late at night.
The hotel was one of the cheapest I could find, althugh for a little bit more money, I would have gotten a genuine hotel with more atmosphere.
The location is "great" if you want to stay right in the VA Waterfront. But remember that this is tourist central through and through, and you will not experience any genuine culture here. It's packed full of soul-less tourist restaurants and trinket shops.
I regretted not selecting a hotel in Camps Bay or even elsewhere in city centre.

Ex prison, so bit of history here - stayed here for 2 nights and could not believe how close to the waterfront it is for the money :o) Views over table mountain while eating breakfast. An all you can eat breakfast buffet and basic but comfortable rooms. Really good value - couldn't find another hotel anywhere near the price around the waterfront area.

The double en-suite rooms are very clean and comfortable. The choice at breakfast and views from the canteen are superb. However, you won't be able to check in until about 16:00, and you have to check out by 10:00. The walls are very thin, so take some ear plugs if you like a lie-in. If we were to return to Cape Town we would stay at this hotel, as it has everything you need at a low price.

At £40 a night for a single traveller in the middle of winter, I though this hotel - although it is really just student accommodation in basic single rooms - was very expensive for what it was.

It is within walking distance of the V & A Waterfront, but the room, though clean, just reminded me of being in a hall of residence.

There really wasn't anywhere to sit in the evening, and you had to go into the nearby uni cafeteria for breakfast and dinner. They charged £10 for a buffet breakfast, which I thought was a complete rip-off, and the dinner, which I tried twice, was also very expensive and not that good.

Breakwater Lodge seems to charge 4/5* hotel prices for budget accommodation, including expensive rates for internet access.

It was also extremely noisy - the walls were paper thin in true student style. The water went off for a day and half when I was there, and the staff were outraged when I asked for a discount off the bill because of this.

I think you could probably find much better accommodation in Cape Town available for the same price.